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Thursday, October 14, 2010

Ask misterjustin: Priming Models

After I posted pics of one of my personal projects I had several people ask me why I would prime a model white and then paint it black. It's an excellent question and I'm happy to answer it.

First let me say that you should only apply a very (VERY!) thin layer of primer to your models. I'll look at why below but when I say "thin" I mean that if you're priming white over a grey model you should still be able to see grey through the primer.

If you apply the primer too thickly you'll loose detail on the model and create a smooth layer that will be LESS effective at helping paint to adhere to the model (see 1, below).

Now let's look at why you prime a model:

It adds "teeth" to help paint adhere to the mode

It helps in finding mold lines and surface defects

It allows you to use thinner layers of paint

Pre-shading

1. By using a thin layer of primer you create a very slightly rough texture on the model. This isn't the rough texture, often called "orange peel," that you get with a bad primer application but a very thin coating of paint. This thin coating creates tiny, microscopic peaks and valleys that will give the next layer of paint somewhere to rest. This keeps it from flowing more freely across the model and helps stop it from being rubbed off as easily with handling as there is more surface holding the paint in place.

2. Many are the mold lines you'll find when you add a thin layer of primer. This gives you a chance to clean them up, and re-prime just that section, before moving on.

3. By adding "teeth" to the model you can use thinner layers of paint, and thus loose less detail while painting, because it's easier for the second and subsequent layers to adhere to the model.

4. Pre-shading is something I'll cover in a future tutorial as it really is a topic of its own. But if you have a question about it please let me know in the comments or via email.

There are other reasons to prime a model but I won't cover those here. If you have a question I'll be happy to answer it in the comments, via email or with another tutorial though.

3 comments:

I tend to be heavy handed when I prime. This is a great reminder that complete coverage to the point of too thick a coat isn't a good thing.Video was helpful too. While I sometimes use bursts, I've always heard passing from one side to the other is best. Nice to see someone show it's okay to use bursts.

If you have access to an airbrush, definitely pick up Vallejos polyurethane primers. They go on much thinner than canned primer (unless you're really good with canned primer). And since there's so much more control of where the primer goes you actually use less of it.

I've still not used more than 1/3 of my black one (the one I use most, helps with initial shading) after a couple of months of use. During which I've primed at least 70 figures, a couple of tanks, a bunch of deffkoptas, a stompa and a ton of other stuff.

Still, heed the advice of misterjustin and don't overdo it. It's perfectly fine if you still see some gray (or metal) after priming. You'll cover that up with paint anyhow. :)